In recent weeks the country has experienced two devastating terrorist attacks.

Manchester Arena was targeted by a man wearing a homemade bomb at an Ariana Grande concert on May 22, killing 22 people including children.

And on Saturday night, three attackers drove into pedestrians before jumping out and stabbing people in the London Bridge Borough Market area of London. A total of eight people lost their lives and 50 were injured.

With the UK's current terror threat level at 'severe', meaning an attack is highly likely, this basic first aid advice has been released in a bid to save lives should anyone find themselves involved in a similar incident.

Joe Mulligan, head of first aid education at the Red Cross, said: "All the research we have done shows that the first people on the scene are absolutely crucial to the outcome for the victim."

Here's Joe's advice if you ever found yourself at the scene of a similar incident.

1. Focus on the quiet ones

"People who are injured and making a lot of noise clearly have their airways open," Emma Hammet, a former A&E nurse, first aid trainer, and founder of First Aid for Life told the Post.

"It is the quiet ones who can be slowly slipping away because they are not breathing.

"To check for breathing, ensure that the airway is open by tilting back the head and lifting the chin.

"Spit on the back of your hand and put it close to the victim's mouth. It will feel cool when breath is expelled.

"Someone should be breathing at least twice in a ten-second period. Don't assume that agonal breathing (the death rattle) is normal breathing. This can be a sign that death is imminent.

"If someone is not breathing, start CPR."

2. Comfort and reassure hurt people

"Cradling injured victims and comforting them is a very important part of first aid – connecting to the injured person," Joe Mulligan adds.

"Reassurance has been shown to be beneficial and improves a person's chances because stress levels decrease.

"It calms the person and it also gives the first aider valuable thinking time to assess the situation and decide what to do next."

3. Stabbing and bullet wounds

If the victim is unresponsive and not breathing, lie them on their back and make sure their airway is open.

You do this by tilting back the head and pushing up the chin. Start performing CPR.

If the victim is unresponsive but is breathing, roll them gently into the recovery position.

"Make sure that they are lying on the injured side. This will prevent blood and fluid entering the uppermost lung which is protected by gravity," Emma says.

"If the victim is still upright and moving around, they could collapse at any time due to blood loss, causing further injury.

"Don't remove clothing because they will go into shock due to blood loss and could develop hypothermia.

"Instead, cut or tear clothes so you can see the wounds. Apply pressure to the wounds using your hands or packing material like a scarf or T-shirt."

Going into shock is a real risk for victims with these sorts of injuries, so make sure you keep them warm and as comforted as possible.

Make sure you don't give them anything to eat or drink as they will almost certainly need to go into theatre when admitted to hospital.

Be aware that even a small or barely-visible wound could be indicative of major and fatal internal bleeding.

4. Using a tourniquet

Done incorrectly, these can have disastrous effects.

"It should only be used in a small number of cases where bleeding is catastrophic, and if direct pressure is not working," adds Emma.

Always treat heavy bleeding firstly and foremost with pressure and packing the wound.

5. Burns and shrapnel wounds

Both of these can be potentially fatal, however, Joe warns against trying to remove sharp objects embedded in flesh.

"They might be blocking a major artery so if you remove then, you could have catastrophic bleeding," he said.

Burns should be treated by being doused in cold fluids or bottled water - even beer or soft drinks will do.

Joe adds: "Never try and remove burnt on clothing however at the scene as this can cause further injury."

6. Head injuries

If you believe someone has sustained a head injury, make sure their airway is unobstructed and they are breathing. Then start CPR.

If the person is standing, get them to sit down.

Head injuries can worsen rapidly so acting fast is key.

7. Spine injuries

Emma warns against moving people you suspect have a spine injury as little as possible to avoid further damage "to the delicate spinal chord."

This includes cradling their head.

Instead, if you need to move the patient, ask other people to help you log roll him or her into a safer place.

8. Injuries from vehicle impact and falls

People who have suffered injuries from speeding vehicles - as with the Westminster and London Bridge attacks - and heavy objects may very well have grave internal injuries.

These could be broken bones, burst arteries or torn spleens.

"Follow the 15-minute rule," advises Emma. "If you can get someone out of a situation where they are crushed, then try it. If they have been crushed for longer than 15 minutes, leave them where they are.

"Removing them can suddenly release a flood of toxins which build up in crushed limbs."

Again, do not feed the injured party food or drink and if they appear to be unresponsive and not breathing, try CPR.

Apply pressure to wounds and only move them if you absolutely need to.